Starter mechanism for motors



Feb. 1, 1949. L. 'r. KINCANNON STARTER MECHANISM FOR MOTORS OriginalFiled April 14. 1943 IN VEN TOR. 67. g 6

Patented Feb. 1,1949

STARTER MECHANISM FOR MOTORS Leo T. Kincannon, Milwaukee, Wis., assignorto Metal Products Corporation, a corporation of Wisconsin Originalapplication April 14, 1943, Serial No.

Divided and this application August- 25, 1944, Serial No. 551,198

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 12 3-185) I The invention relates to starters for smallmotors. I

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.482,967, filed April 14, 1943, and relates more particularly to thestarter mechanism shown, described, and claimed in said application, andthe general object of this inven- 2 to permit the cams I10 to act on theplate, a spring I65 (Fig. 2) embraces the upper end of the diameter I6Iand has a free end receivable in a slot I66 in the bearing. The springI65 acts tion is to providaa starter mechanism which will be less likelyto fail and which can be readily and economically manufactured.

One object of the invention is to provide a starter mechanism whicheliminates the use of the usual separate ratchet dogs and their springsand provides a simple automatically releasable clutch plate to connectthe starter impulse mechanism to the engine shaft.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter setforth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in cross-section, showingthe starter mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a detailed horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

In the drawings, the numeral 23 designates generally the startermechanism, 20 the motor shaft, and I08 the fly-wheel fixed on the shaft20 and rotatable therewith.

The starter mechanism includes an impulse or torque producing mechanismand an automatic clutch mechanism for connecting said torque producingmechanism to the engine shaft 20 to turn the same to start the motor.

The clutch mechanism includes a fixed jaw clutch member or the plate I50which is fixed to the flywheel I08 by screws II. The plate I50 has aplurality of circumferential apertures I52 which are engaged bydepending lugs or jaws I53 on an actuator or fixed jaw clutch plate I54.The plate I54 is mounted on a hub or shaft I56 in the top of the fixedcasing I51.

The hub I56 which is concentric with the shaft 20 has a larger diameterI50 which has a working fit in the upper part of a bearing I60 and a asa drag in one direction which permits the plate I54 to move down underthe influence of the cam surface I10 while allowing the plate I54 torotate freely in the opposite direction. The spring I65 as shown inFigs. 1 and 2 cooperates with the part I6I .of the shaft I56 to form aone-way or overrunning brake. The pulley I'II has a hub I13 which ismounted to rotate about the hearing I in the top of the casing I51 andis urged into retracted position by a spring I13. The pulley is turnedor operated by a rope or cord I15, one end of which projects through anopening I51 and is maintained outside the casing.

To start the motor the carburetor (not shown) flooded in the usualmanner and the cord I15 pulled to rotate the pulley. Rotation of thepulley Ill brings the cam surfaces on the fingers I10 into engagementwith the top of the actuator plate I54 forcing said plate downwardlyinto engagement with the plate I50, it being noted from Fig. 3 that thefingers I10 project through openings I54 in said plate I54 and act aswedges. Downward movement of the actuator plate I54 brings its lugs I53into engagement with one side of the holes I52 and further rotation ofthe pulley I1I rotates the shaft 20, causing the engine or motor, notshown in detail herein, to become filled with explosive mixture which iscompressed and fired as usual to start the engine rotating under its ownpower.

When the motor starts, the rotation of the plate I50 relative to theplate I54 is reversed and the trailing edges of the apertures I52 in theplate I50 contact cam surfaces I53 on the trailing edges of the lugs I53to force the plate I54 free of the plate I50 and other rotating parts ofthe engine. The spring I63 also acts to normally urge the plate I54 to adisengagingposition, so that in case the cord I15 has been pulled out toits full extent before the motor starts or the motor fails to start, theplate I54 will be disengaged from the plate I50 and the spring I13 willbe free to turn the pulley "I back to a starting position.

It will be noted that the cord operated pulley "I with its fingers I10provides a torque producing mechanism which acts to move the clutchplate I54 into engagement with the clutch plate I50 on the motor andwhicha'is returned to its initial starting position by the spring I13.The

drag produced by the spring I65 acts only in one direction, that is,while the pulley m is being turned to turn the motor, but releases whenthe motor starts to allow the plate I54 to be turned freely in theopposite direction as the plate 554 is moved upwardly by the spring I63out of engagement with plate I50.

It will be noted that the flywheel I08 itself is provided with aperturesin line with the apertures in the plate I50 and that the plate simplyforms a wear surface for the tops of the apertures in said flywheel.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited toany particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a starter for a motor having a flywheel with apertures therein, apulley, a spring attached to said pulley and adapted to rotate thepulley in one direction, a cord engaged with said pulley and adapted torotate the pulley against the action of said spring, an actuating platemounted concentrically with said pulley and having a limited movement ina plane perpendicular to the pulley, a cam member mounted on said pulleyand in constant engagement with said plate, said cam being adaptedsimultaneously to rotate said plate and having fixed cam portionsengageable with said plate to move the same toward said flywheel, andfixed lugs on said plate engageable in the apertures in the flywheel torotate the latter.

2. In a starter for a motor having a flywheel with an aperture in theupper end thereof, said starter comprising a pulley, a cord wound aboutsaid pulley and adapted to rotate the same, an actuator plate movableaxially toward the flywheel, a fixed lug on said actuator plateengageable with the aperture in the flywheel to rotate the same, and cammeans on the pulley simultaneously to rotate the actuator plate andcause the same to move toward the flywheel and actuate the motor.

for connecting said member with said shaft including a fixed jaw clutchmember having lugs forming relatively fixed jaws and movable with saidrevoluble member, means for imposing a drag on the rotation of saidclutch member in one direction to produce relative movement between saidmembers, cam means on said revoluble releasable therefrom on reverserotation of said 3. In a starter mechanism of the character described,the combination with a manually revoluble member and an engine shaft, ofa clutch for connecting said member with said shaft including a fixedjaw clutch member having lugs forming relatively fixed jaws and movablewith said revoluble member and lengthwise relative thereto and a fixedjaw clutch member on said shaft provided with lug engaging recesses andhaving a driving connection with said lengthwise movable clutch memberbut releasable therefrom on reverse rotation of said shaft and cam meanson said manually revoluble member to simultaneously rotate said firstnamed clutch memberand cause the same to move toward the second namedclutch member.

4. In a starter mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith a manually rev- 7 oluble member and an engine shaft, of a clutchshaft.

5. In a starter mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith a manually revoluble member and an engine shaft, of a clutch forconnecting said member with said shaft including a fixed jaw clutchmember having lugs forming relatively fixed jaws and movable with saidrevoluble member, means for imposing a drag on the rotation of saidclutch member in one direction toproduce relative movement between saidmembers, cam means on said revoluble member acting on said clutch memberto move it lengthwise relative thereto, a fixed jaw clutch member onsaid shaft provided with lug engaging recesses, said clutch membershaving a direct drive connection with each other in one direction, and awedge connection in the opposite direction to automatically release saidlengthwise movable clutch member.

6. In a startermechanism of the character described, the combinationwith a manually revoluble member and an engine shaft, of a clutch forconnecting said member with said shaft including a fixed jaw clutchmember having lugs forming relatively fixed jaws movable with saidrevoluble member, a one way overrunning spring brake for imposing a dragon the rotation of said clutch member in one direction to producerelative movement between said members, cam means on said revolublemember acting on said clutch member "to move it lengthwise relativethereto, and a fixed jaw clutch member on said shaft provided with lugreceiving recesses and having a driving connection with said lengthwisemovable clutch member but releasable therefrom on reverse rotation ofsaid shaft.

LEO T. KIN CANNON REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,178,788 Filletaz Apr..11, 19162,204,750 Conover June 18, 1940 2,227,392 Kuzmitz Dec. 31, 1940

